Vicky Fowkes, 59, decided to start dating online in early summer 2010 and by
August she was sending 'moneygrams' to Nigeria to a man she believed was a
charming British ex-pat called John Hawkins.
By November 2010 the man, who claimed he was an engineer with his own property
business, had received nearly £40,000.
But Ms Fowkes’ hope of love was shattered when police visited her home in
Tewkesbury, Worcestershire, and revealed the romance was scam concocted by
an internet fraudster.
The mother-of-two said: "I put my trust in this person and I was beginning to
start a relationship with them, but now the whole affair has had a
devastating effect on my life.
"I have been humiliated and have lost my self respect."
Mrs Fowkes, a self-employed child care consultant, began sending money to Nigeria in August 2010 after her internet lover failed to visit her at Heathrow after telling her he had booked a flight.
She said: "He was due to come for a visit in August but he wasn't on the flight and then when he rang later that day he said they stopped him at customs to do with tax issues with his business.
"Two weeks later he started asking me for money."
The man masquerading as John Hawkins claimed he was being fined by the government for the tax that he owed.
But West Mercia Police visited Ms Fowkes and broke the news that she was the victim of a con artist.
Robin Longmore, a financial intelligence development officer for West Mercia Police said: "Through our investigations we started to believe Vicky was a victim. This kind of thing is a massive problem in Nigeria and Ghana with groups of men sitting in internet cafes all conning people over their internet dating sites.
"We believe that this person was operating from Nigeria and John Hawkins is clearly a made up name and the pictures that he used are obviously taken from the internet and are innocent members of the public."
(Telegraph)
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everydayMrs Fowkes, a self-employed child care consultant, began sending money to Nigeria in August 2010 after her internet lover failed to visit her at Heathrow after telling her he had booked a flight.
She said: "He was due to come for a visit in August but he wasn't on the flight and then when he rang later that day he said they stopped him at customs to do with tax issues with his business.
"Two weeks later he started asking me for money."
The man masquerading as John Hawkins claimed he was being fined by the government for the tax that he owed.
But West Mercia Police visited Ms Fowkes and broke the news that she was the victim of a con artist.
Robin Longmore, a financial intelligence development officer for West Mercia Police said: "Through our investigations we started to believe Vicky was a victim. This kind of thing is a massive problem in Nigeria and Ghana with groups of men sitting in internet cafes all conning people over their internet dating sites.
"We believe that this person was operating from Nigeria and John Hawkins is clearly a made up name and the pictures that he used are obviously taken from the internet and are innocent members of the public."
(Telegraph)
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They dont sit in Internet Cafes anymore, its now done from home, on the phone etc
ReplyDeleteThis is another way that this so-called technological development has helped our people in developing much further their intellectual criminal mind to a higher level.
ReplyDeleteSince the govt cannot create job, which option you leave for them.
ReplyDeleteAfter 7year of joblessness or are you telling me this guy is an illiterate?, pls send more pounds.
At 59, you are still looking for internet love. wat of uncle joe your next door nighbor, you dey form style for am at your age, abi, ne em good for you.
This is as crazy as they come. It'd be apt to say "Serves you right at this stage. Also the police chap who claimed that these people sit around Internet cafes and con people has to get his facts right. This writer is tapping away at his laptop (Oh, yes. We have laptops in Africa). It is this type of naiveté that make people fall victim to scam. You think Africans are all fools. A 59-year old falling in love?!!! On the Net? Haba (as we say in my country). What did you expect? Roses? Poems? Grandma, develop some quality relationships with people of your age-range in London. Or use your money for some socially-relevant endeavors in your community.
ReplyDeleteAs much as I hate fraudsters, and would bat an eyelid in turning any of them over to the police, I would like to caution the police spokesperson who claimed the scammer must be from Nigeria or Ghana. This is a clear case of calling a dog a bad name in order to hang it. His own brother might as well be the scammer. Next-door neighbors con themselves nowadays, and claim they are doing so from another country. Moreover, most of these con artists learnt their skills from Hollywood movies; James Bond; books of James Hadley Chase; and others too numerous to mention. Once again I say Mrs Knowles, look for some of your own age. Don't be a cradle robber (people who go after people much younger than themselves.
MICHAEL EWACHE SAID;-
ReplyDeleteSHE NO WANT UNCLE BECAUSE UNCLE NOFIT GIVE HER HOT STYLE FOR BED. SHE WANTS TO TASTE THE HOT GUYS STYLE AT LEAST TO REMEMBER HER YOUTHFUL AGE.
I HAVE NO PITY FOR HER IF AT THE AGE SHE IS AND STILL LOOKING FOR INTERNET LOVE,
Well, that is why you should always insist on a webcam chat. That is a step. it doesn't guarantee anything anyway. As far as internet dating is concerned,you can count the fortunate ones (those who found true love)on one hand. It is rare for you to find a serious person online. But reading the story, I just can't help but be amazed at the fact that there are still people this stupid in the world.
ReplyDeleteThis act actually is building barriers for people who are truly looking for love! 40,000pounds poverty! if a woman can give him that much, then she can do better if she is shown true love.
ReplyDeletethere are jobs everywhere, these people only want money without working. i wont blame her for given, he must have shown her a fake love which is not easy to detect to gain her trust of him.
this can happen to anyone cos they do it even to blacks! God is on the Throne!.
The guy is just a lazy bastard...And it hurts when people do all this. I have lady i met online and today we cool together.....I will strongly advise people not to send money...Only give when you want to but not make it a tradition
ReplyDeleteThis guys are wicked ɑ̤̥̈̊п̥̥̲̣̣d̶̲̥̅̊ d wrath of God will surely fall on everyone of u that supports scam!
ReplyDeleteU will not enjoy †ђξ fruit of your labour since u want others not to enjoy theirs.
U will die by accident in any car u buy from scam.
U will be restless untill u die.
Shame to u all that blames d goverment for going into scam.
FOOLs
This is very bad not encourage, but here is a question. I need to ask is love really Blade?
ReplyDeleteToo bad,i can really blame d guy.what about d oyinbo woman?Do u know they are d reason why we are poor in Africa.They stole our resources to enrich their own states.I guess she wants to entized d guy wit her money.love is natural.As for d guy,if u get caught,sure u will be jailed.
ReplyDeletewhy do people keep blaming colonialist for the bad roads and poverty in Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteAfter so long- we cant figure out that Nigerians themselves are the problems.
From pastors to politicians -they are all in the same bandwagon of stealing and corruption either directly or indirectly. So the anonymous guy should stop the nonsense of blaming the colonial masters. Nigerian politicians have stole a lot- Ibori etal - Pastors also in Nigeria have indoctrinated their followers- building branches of churches in Africa and beyond. Ask yourself how many foreign controlled churches are there in Nigeria. While your so called pastors tell you they are expanding the gospel to other worlds. The indirect permutation is that they are expanding their businesses and quoting the old testament and new testament to fool you. So long as poverty remains- their would be more scams.
Nice Post. This is really very good article. I am really apreciated to share it with us. Thanks!!
ReplyDelete